Chalky

Many cities in the USA have a place in the hearts of Rare Soul aficionados but none more so than Detroit and Pied Piper has always been highly revered by collectors and dancers alike. Ever since the first instalment of the Pied Piper recordings by Kent (A New Concept In Detroit Soul), before they had even finished listening people were asking when is the next one out? Well out it is and the standard as you would expect is right up there with the first with a selection of gems, both previously released on 45 and some that surprisingly given the quality had been left in the can in the vaults for decades. Pied Piper was started by Jack Ashford and Shelley Haims with their own Giant label. But with the help and addition of various musicians, writers, arrangers and producers, amongst them Lorraine Chandler and Funk Brothers Mike Terry, Joe Hunter and Herbie Williams to name but a few their talent soon spread to labels such as Karate, Kapp and RCA. You only have to see a 45 with the name Pied Piper on it or any of those involved to know you have a quality release in your hands, the vast majority highly collectable and many commanding a large amount of money. This CD kicks off with one that lay in the vaults for many years until it was found and dusted down and exposed to the world via Ady Croasdell at the world famous 100 Club all-nighters is September Jone’s “Voodoo Madamoiselle”. An infectious dancer that reached cult status pretty quickly and was helped along the way by a YouTube video showing Levanna McLean dancing in somewhere far afield. September also features with two other tracks. “No More Love” was the flip to her classic Kapp outing “I’m Coming Home” and lastly with her version of Mikki Farrow’s “Could It Be” but this time titled “You Better Know Why”. A great version but Mikki just edges it for me. Mikki Farrow does feature on the CD with her glorious “Set My Heart At Ease” which has achieved classic status over the years Another unissued gem that has reached cult status with little effort is Nancy Wilcox with “He’ll Be Leaving You”. One listen to this classy soulful up-tempo dancer and it isn’t hard to see why. Nancy also feature on the CD with “More Than A Memory”. Another class dancers, lyrically the better of the two for me and more soulful but if I had to choose one or the other I would struggle! Lorraine Chandler is featured with three tracks. The first, Lorraine’s failed attempt at the James Bond theme “You Only Live Twice” has become a classic since it was first aired at the 100 Club many years ago and has since featured on a Kent 100 Club Anniversary 45. Here we have an alternative outing, the original first take, not as polished as the previous take but still a great record nonetheless. The second track, “Lost Without You” is a glorious soulful mid-tempo outing. The song was co-written and recorded by Teddy Randazzo in 1964, two years prior to Lorraine’s take which sadly remained in the can. Why some of this material never saw the light of day until nigh on 40 years later is beyond me. Her third outing for this CD is her Northern Soul classic “Giant” release “What Can I Do”, well known to dancers and collectors alike. The Hesitations feature twice with two from one of the great Soul LP’s “Soul Superman”. The fabulous mid-tempo outing “Wait A Minute” and the stomper “That’s What Love Is” of which the backing would be used for the Northern Soul monster Eddie Parker’s “I'm Gone”. Tony Hester is featured here with “Watch Yourself”, another Northern Soul classic. He also responsible for “Just Can’t Leave You” but whilst that isn’t featured, the backing track was utilized by the team for another that lay dormant in the vaults until being unleashed by Ady on “Love Will Find A Way” by Harry Gates. This has been featured on the turntables down the 100 Club and other venues around the country to widely appreciated dancers and chin-strokers alike Another of the all time great Soul LP’s is Freddy Butler’s “With A Dab Of Soul”. Freddy features with two tracks. “They Say (I’m Afraid Of Losing You)” a truly wonderful slice of soul music and “Give Me Lots Of Lovin”, a delightful mid-tempo number that has delighted dancers for over three decades and the quality has ensured the LP has remained highly sought after. Those behind the music get the chance to shine with two tracks, one previously unreleased backing track entitled “Love Sick” and the second is “Hold To My Baby”, the vocal version being by The Cavaliers. The Cavaliers do though give us two offerings on the CD. An alternate take of their classic RCA outing “Ooh It Hurts Me” which should need little or no introduction. The second surprisingly lay dormant in the vaults and begs the question why? “Without Someone To Tell Me” is a superb dancer, as good in my opinion as “Ooh It Hurts Me”. The Metros are a highly regarded group amongst both dancers and collectors alike with many of their 45’s having reached classic status on the UK Northern Soul Scene. Here we have two tracks, both mid-tempo offerings “It’s Right Now “ was released a couple of years after being laid down, not by the Metros but by group member Joe Buckman on Jack Ashford and Lorraine Chandler’s Sepia label. It is clearly a group outing though. The second is the previously unreleased mid-tempo mover “You Don’t Know Me Do You”. Northern Soul classics from Sharon Scott with “Could It Be You” and The Dynamics with ”I Need Your Love” both feature. Both still getting played on a regular basis decades after first getting turntable action here in the UK and still commanding a three-figure sum price wise. Sam E Solo with his Ruby/Imperial outing “Love Is Not A Game” completes the selection for this compilation, still a delightful mid-tempo number I don’t hear to much these days. What is surprising is this was all laid down within a two year period, 1965 - 1967. A relatively short period of time given the amount of quality recordings which simply highlights the of talent that was Pied Piper. As you would expect another superb release from Kent, the extensive sleeve notes from Ady Croasdell are worth the price alone with some fabulous photos. I do wish Kent would release the sleeve notes alone for their CD’s in a book. Also worth checking out if you’ve been living in outer Mongolia in a tent is the first Pied Piper outing from Kent “Pied Piper Presents A New Concept In Detroit Soul” and of course the RCA “Rare Collectable and Soulful” compilations which of course feature Pied Piper productions and recordings https://youtu.be/c68b9mYp3mg 01 Voodoo Madamoiselle - September Jones 02 He'll Be Leaving You - Nancy Wilcox 03 You Only Live Twice (alternate version) - Lorraine Chandler 04 Could It Be You - Sharon Scott 05 Ooh It Hurts Me (alternate version) - The Cavaliers 06 I Need Your Love - The Dynamics 07 Watch Yourself - Tony Hester 08 Love Will Find A Way - Harry Gates 09 They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - Freddy Butler 10 Lost Without You - Lorraine Chandler 11 Wait A Minute - The Hesitations 12 Love Sick - The Pied Piper Players 13 No More Love - September Jones 14 Set My Heart At Ease - Mikki Farrow 15 More Than A Memory - Nancy Wilcox 16 Without Someone To Tell Me - The Cavaliers 17 It's Right Now - The Metros 18 Love Is Not A Game - Sam E Solo 19 What Can I Do - Lorraine Chandler 20 You Better Know Why - September Jones 21 You Don't Know Me Do You - The Metros 22 Hold To My Baby - The Pied Piper Players 23 That's What Love Is - The Hesitations 24 Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - Freddy Butler Buy direct from Ace Records with free delivery: http://acerecords.co.uk/pied-piper-follow-your-soul Side 1 01 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-1.mp3 Voo Doo Madamoiselle - September Jones 02 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-2.mp3 He'll Be Leaving You - Nancy Wilcox 03 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-3.mp3 You Only Live Twice (alternate version) - Lorraine Chandler 04 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-4.mp3 Could It Be You - Sharon Scott 05 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-5.mp3 Ooh It Hurts Me (alternate version) - The Cavaliers 06 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-6.mp3 I Need Your Love - The Dynamics 07 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-7.mp3 Watch Yourself - Tony Hester 08 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-8.mp3 Love Will Find A Way - Harry Gates 09 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-9.mp3 They Say I'm Afraid (Of Losing You) - Freddy Butler 10 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-10.mp3 Lost Without You - Lorraine Chandler 11 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-11.mp3 Wait A Minute - The Hesitations 12 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-12.mp3 Love Sick - The Pied Piper Players 13 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-13.mp3 No More Love - September Jones 14 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-14.mp3 Set My Heart At Ease - Mikki Farrow 15 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-15.mp3 More Than A Memory - Nancy Wilcox 16 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-16.mp3 Without Someone To Tell Me - The Cavaliers 17 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-17.mp3 It's Right Now - The Metros 18 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-18.mp3 Love Is Not A Game - Sam E Solo 19 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-19.mp3 What Can I Do - Lorraine Chandler 20 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-20.mp3 You Better Know Why - September Jones 21 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-21.mp3 You Don't Know Me Do You - The Metros 22 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-22.mp3 Hold To My Baby - The Pied Piper Players 23 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-23.mp3 That's What Love Is - The Hesitations 24 http://acerecords.co.uk/docs/CDKEND_429/CDKEND_429-1-24.mp3 Give Me Lots Of Lovin' - Freddy Butler